Cotto's Title On The Line vs. Pacquiao

Cotto’s title on the line vs Pacquiao By NICK GIONGCO August 2, 2009, 7:44pm The World Boxing Organization (WBO) removed one of Manny Pacquiao’s concerns when it announced Sunday that Miguel Cotto will defend his welterweight crown in a catch weight of 145 lbs — and not 147 lbs — against the Filipino boxing icon. WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel told the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia that (the fight) it’s going to be for the (WBO) title” and that everything will come to a “happy ending” for both parties. Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said he had spoken with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum also yesterday, assuring him that the fight will be at 145 lbs and that Cotto’s WBO throne will be on the line in the super showdown penciled at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto had insisted a few days back that if Pacquiao wants to go after the WBO crown, the fight will have to be at 147 lbs. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said fighting Cotto in a non-title bout is almost without value. Now that it appears that a major stumbling block has been cleared, next up for discussion would be the crucial choice of finding a new training camp for Pacquiao, who has been advised by the Harvard-educated lawyer to set up the first half of his training camp outside US territory owing to an IRS regulation called the Substantial Presence Test. Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank is staging the megabuck fight, will embark on a huge promotional tour of four cities in September, kicking off with the lead event at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 10. The next stops will be in Cotto’s hometown of Caguas in Puerto Rico on Sept. 12, AT&T Park in San Francisco on Sept. 13 and Beverly Hills in Los Angeles on Sept. 14. Then, the two will head to their respective training camps with Cotto going to Tampa, Florida, and Pacquiao in the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico or the Philippines. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/214025/cotto-s-title-line-vs-pacquiao

Comments (20)

This is good news.

16y ago

PiNoYBoXR

Man too much this and that...I just hope these guys fight..

16y ago

El_Jesus

so ur saying that cotto the bigger guy is picking on pacquiao the smaller guy and STILL cotto is too pu$$y to put his title on the line. he's more of a b1tch than i thought This is a pretty pathetic rebuttle. Neither pac nor cotto challanged each other, they have the same promoter, so the fight was organized to keep the money in house. this fight has no real signifigance other than it being a big money megafight between two ethnic stars. thats it.

16y ago

flipbjefrox

Chavez and whitaker were roughly the same size and both of them had come from 135, thats why it wasnt a big deal. They also met because whitaker was undisputed at 147, and Chavez was undisputed at welter, so they met in the middle with titles on the line. This situation is not the same. Whitaker wasnt going to be weakened by dropping a couple of pounds because he wasnt some huge welter, and chavez didint have this huge marginal gain by moving up because even against de la hoya at 147, he could barely edge himself to 144 lbs. I know you got that information from reading these boards, but you need to understand the context of that fight, those guys were roughly the same size regardless, so they didint care. so ur saying that cotto the bigger guy is picking on pacquiao the smaller guy and STILL cotto is too pu$$y to put his title on the line. he's more of a b1tch than i thought

16y ago

El_Jesus

whitaker vs. chavez WW championship at a catchweight of 145. pac already conceded to cotto's weight demand. it was cotto's idea to fight at 145 not pac. pac wanted it at 143 Chavez and whitaker were roughly the same size and both of them had come from 135, thats why it wasnt a big deal. They also met because whitaker was undisputed at 147, and Chavez was undisputed at welter, so they met in the middle with titles on the line. This situation is not the same. Whitaker wasnt going to be weakened by dropping a couple of pounds because he wasnt some huge welter, and chavez didint have this huge marginal gain by moving up because even against de la hoya at 147, he could barely edge himself to 144 lbs. I know you got that information from reading these boards, but you need to understand the context of that fight, those guys were roughly the same size regardless, so they didint care.

16y ago

flipbjefrox

Nobody catchweights from 140 to welter, most fighters simply move up. Regardless, its a WBO title, its a small piece of the grand spectrum at 147. Pac winning the title in the grand scheme puts him in the mix at welter, but its far from being the king of that division, something cotto himself isnt staking a claim to. If cotto is too puzzy to put his belt on the line, would that make pac too puzzy to just move to 147 like everyone else? Its give and take. Cotto starching jennings after taking on someone like Antonio Margarito is acceptable in my eyes. whitaker vs. chavez WW championship at a catchweight of 145. pac already conceded to cotto's weight demand. it was cotto's idea to fight at 145 not pac. pac wanted it at 143

16y ago

El_Jesus

name a catchweight within the division where one fighter has a title and it wasnt put on the line. Only cotto is too Pu$$y to do it. it has nothing to do with pride because if he has any, he wouldnt have called himself a world champion after beating jennings Nobody catchweights from 140 to welter, most fighters simply move up. Regardless, its a WBO title, its a small piece of the grand spectrum at 147. Pac winning the title in the grand scheme puts him in the mix at welter, but its far from being the king of that division, something cotto himself isnt staking a claim to. If cotto is too puzzy to put his belt on the line, would that make pac too puzzy to just move to 147 like everyone else? Its give and take. Cotto starching jennings after taking on someone like Antonio Margarito is acceptable in my eyes.

16y ago

flipbjefrox

So do I, but not for the reasons you listed. I hope it's canceled because this whole thing is a travesty of boxing politics. There is NO FRIGGING WAY that the title should be on the line at 145. It is crap. name a catchweight within the division where one fighter has a title and it wasnt put on the line. Only cotto is too Pu$$y to do it. it has nothing to do with pride because if he has any, he wouldnt have called himself a world champion after beating jennings

16y ago

Nuurzhaelan

Cotto nuthuggers thinks that by bitching and moaning, Cotto will get what he wants. Hope that Pacquiao cancels the fight with Cotto and instead negotiate a bout with SSM. These non-stop moanings and bitchings will totally seize to exists and hopefully, ricans can continue with their normal lives. So do I, but not for the reasons you listed. I hope it's canceled because this whole thing is a travesty of boxing politics. There is NO FRIGGING WAY that the title should be on the line at 145. It is crap.

16y ago

Talisayen

not really.....only cotto fans and some haters think so.....the title will be on the line whether cotto likes it or not..... Cotto nuthuggers thinks that by bitching and moaning, Cotto will get what he wants. Hope that Pacquiao cancels the fight with Cotto and instead negotiate a bout with SSM. These non-stop moanings and bitchings will totally seize to exists and hopefully, ricans can continue with their normal lives.

16y ago

Nuurzhaelan

not really.....only cotto fans and some haters think so.....the title will be on the line whether cotto likes it or not..... It's bullshit. That's my opinion whether you like it or not.

16y ago

Talisayen

wtf, non-stop moaning and bitching :wtf1:

16y ago

Nuurzhaelan

if belt is on line, then cotto should be able to weight-in at 147 limit. cotto's fought big strong guys like marg/mosley etc.. (even tho he lost to the cheat) to earn it so pac should be forced to do the same. i like pac, but him and roach are starting to really bother me. plus roach said the title didnt mean sh1t at first...he just wants pac to be the first 7 weight title holder or w/e, but thats bullsh1t if its at a catchweight. you want to be a legend pac? do it in a legendary fashion. I will lose all respect for Pacquiao if he goes through with this. He should have some say over his career and the direction it is taking. Right now he is making himself look very bad by allowing this bullshit to happen.

16y ago

johnle43

16y ago

Nuurzhaelan

Does it really matter if he agrees or not ? Cotto will vacate the title, and the WBO will let Manny fight for the vacant title anyways. This shouldn't even be an issue right now. I hope to GOD Cotto does that. **** the wbo and **** Roach (and or Pacquiao if he is in line with this bullshit decision).

16y ago

Nuurzhaelan

I wonder if Pacquiao will challenge Wladimir to meet him at 160 pounds for the heavyweight title next Yeah, that would certainly outdo RJJ's bid for historical significance.

16y ago

AnimalisticMeth

Are you saying that this is false? WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel told the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia that (the fight) it’s going to be for the (WBO) title” and that everything will come to a “happy ending” for both parties. Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said he had spoken with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum also yesterday, assuring him that the fight will be at 145 lbs and that Cotto’s WBO throne will be on the line in the super showdown penciled at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If you really read that you can understand that they are still negotiating and from what I know Cotto has not agreed to a title fight so they are probably getting way ahead of themselves. When Cotto agreeds I let you know.

16y ago

Swoosh

Pac fans are in for a surprise. Cotto has fought some very good boxers in Judah and Mosely. He has fought some big strong guys in Clottey and Margs. He has done well against them all although i believe he lost against Clottey. Cotto is much MUCH better then Hatton and wont have the cancer of Floyd Sr in his corner. Pac's only chance is to catch Cotto with something he doesn't see. If not, he will be broken down over the course of the fight and possibly KO Manny. Tony took a little piece of Cotto's career with him and he hasn't been the same since. It's the only reason this fight won't be a blowout.

16y ago

Lady_Fan

No title is on the line right now. I saw the real article in El Nuevo Dia and Varcarcel said the same things he's been saying for a months. Title is not on the line right now! I repeat! Title is not on the line! Are you saying that this is false? WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel told the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia that (the fight) it’s going to be for the (WBO) title” and that everything will come to a “happy ending” for both parties. Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said he had spoken with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum also yesterday, assuring him that the fight will be at 145 lbs and that Cotto’s WBO throne will be on the line in the super showdown penciled at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

16y ago

AnimalisticMeth

The title will be on the line..wether Cotto likes it or not. Wait and see. No title unlles is 147 or Pacquiao give Cotto a 50-50 purse split.

16y ago